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This Edinburgh restaurant guide lists architect-designed restaurants & cafes. These restaurants are mostly contemporary. The key classics, such as The Balmoral Hotel and Fishers, are inserted to give depth. Most restaurants are reviewed for surroundings, food & service.
Edinburgh restaurant recommendations: info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk
Restaurant recommendations: service + interior + food & wine
*** excellent ** good * fair ^ unreviewed
This page is updated at least monthly
Edinburgh Restaurants listed by area, starting with the best reviews in each area
Edinburgh Restaurants - Reviews:
Voodoo Rooms
Goblin Ha’ hotel + Osteria
The Outsider
Chubara
Fishers in the City
Centotre
Zanzero
Sizzling Scot
| Old Town Restaurants |
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Fruitmarket the Cafeteria 45 Market St., adj. Waverley Station +44 (0)131 226 1843 Fruitmarket café (bijou Edinburgh art restaurant) attached to Edinburgh's leading independent modern art gallery and art bookshop, by Richard Murphy Architects. |
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| * * | The
Tower Restaurant Museum of Scotland, Chambers St +44 (0)131 225 3003 The Tower restaurant has views from the Terrace to the Castle and from the restaurant to the Old Town roofscape. Pricey but great terrace when it's calm and the sun shines. |
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| * * | The
Witchery by the Castle incl. The Secret Garden 352 Castlehill +44 (0)131 225 5613 Witchery Edinburgh review |
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Pizza Express Restaurant 23 North Bridge, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 557 6411 Typical quality chain interior, but with daylight to rear - by Malcolm Fraser Architects. |
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Café
Hub The Hub, Castlehill (top of Royal Mile) +44 (0)131 473 2067 The Hub |
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| * | The
Tun Bar & Cafe Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 557 9297 The Tun or for general interest Edinburgh old town |
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| ^ | Borough
Hotel - Restaurant 72-80 Causewayside +44 (0)131 668 225 The Borough Hotel is by Ben Kelly Architects, designers of Manchester's Dry 201 and Hacienda Nightclub: for Callison Eaton, the owner of the trendy City Cafe in Blair Street. |
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| ^ | Mills
Mount Café The Castle, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 225 9746 see Edinburgh Castle |
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| ^ | Beluga
30a Chambers St, opposite Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 624 4545 Beluga Restaurant |
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Have you visited one of the above Edinburgh Restaurants?
Please mail your review to: Restaurants Edinburgh
Edinburgh Old Town Restaurants in more detail
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| Lothian Road Restaurants |
| * * * | Roti 73 Morrison St, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 221 9998 Roti Restaurant in former rogues restaurant premises - cool interior concealed behind office block exterior, part of Scottish Widows building |
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| * * | agua
restaurant Apex City Hotel, 61 Grassmarket, Edinburgh agua hotel by Ian Springford Architects, as Apex Hotel & Metro above. agua restaurant was created by converting the former Bank of Scotland's Uberior House office building into a four-star hotel. Above the restaurant are 119 bedrooms including 3 suites, meeting facilities and bar. |
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| * * | Point
Hotel Restaurant Bread St, Edinburgh. +44 (0)131 221 5555 An Edinburgh Restaurant with real atmosphere (influenced by Obecni Dom, Prague, and it shows) and competitively-priced food. For details of refurbishment from old Co-op interior. Vibrant planes of colour and wonderfully-clean modern lines let down at-times by ordinary fittings (those brass rails for example), cutlery and service. Architects’ discount on rates: attractive, modern rooms by Andrew Doolan Architects. |
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| * * | Monboddo’s
Bar Bread St, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 221 5555 Architects’ hang-out at the Point Hotel also by Mr Doolan: stong colours lots of flush black linings and cool oval bar. Monboddo's is let down by the fiddly and gaudy artwork at odds with the minimal architecture. Glass spirits shelves easily get dusty and the brushstroked orange bar bookends look dated. Needs a makeover to catch up with the seriously refined Point Conference Centre next-door-but-one. |
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| * | Santini 8, Conference Square, off Lothian Road, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 221 7789 This Edinburgh restaurant, by Terry Farrell & Partners, on the ground floor of the Sheraton Health Club is sadly rather pedestrian compared to the spa above. Quite expensive, high-quality Italian food but poor views. Includes a cheaper cafe. |
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| * | Metro
Restaurant Apex Hotel, 31-35 Grassmarket, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 474 3466 Metro Edinburgh is a triple-height modern white-painted timber-floored basement restaurant with street-level bar by Ian Springford Architects: opened 2000. The sense of space at Metro - great views and sensitive use of materials - is impressive, and a big jump up from the mundane restaurant at the top of the building. |
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| - | Traverse
Theatre: Café Bar 10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 228 5383 The Traverse is reputedly the longest bar in Edinburgh - downstairs, by Nicholas Groves-Raines Architects. More a theatre bar than fine dining. barcafe@traverse.co.uk |
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| ^ | The
Atrium 10 Cambridge St., Edinburgh +44 (0)131 228 8882 The Atrium is an expensive, but excellent restaurant. Owner Andrew Radford won The Macallan Taste of Scotland Award 1994. info@atriumrestaurant.co.uk |
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| ^ | blue 10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 221 1222 blue is a sedate, restrained contemporary interior with limited cream-coloured palette set-off with blue. blue is by Andrea Faed Architects. Up the stairs on left of the Traverse entrance; unusual views of internal courtyard by others. blue is one of a number of Andrew Radford restuarants, including The Atrium. |
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| ^ | Edinburgh
City Travel Inn 1 Morrison Link +44 (0)131 228 9819 Another Doolan product - bar/restaurant. Edinburgh City Travel Inn is a sister hotel of the Point Hotel. |
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| ^ | Hilton
Caledonian Hotel Princes St, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 222 8888 The Pompadour Restaurant Exclusive red-sandstone clad former railway terminus hotel with restaurants and bars. The Caledonian Hotel isn't contemporary, but one half of the Victorian double-act with the Balmoral (formerly North British or NB) Hotel, Edinburgh's class stalwarts. Edinburgh's Hilton has four bar / restaurants. |
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Have you visited one of the above Edinburgh Restaurants? Please mail your review
Lothian Road Restaurants in more detail
| New Town Restaurants |
| * * * | Oloroso 33 Castle St, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 226 7614 Oloroso Restaurant designed by Richard Murphy Architects. Superb restaurant and pleinair terrace views towards Charlotte Square and across to Fife. At the heart of the design is the Cocktail Bar with illuminated glass bartop, rooflight and real flame fire. Lounge with views to Arthurs Seat, Private Dining Room with views to the Castle. ITV Chef of the Year 2001 Tony Singh is in the kitchen |
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| * * * | The
Voodoo Rooms West Register St +44 (0)131 556 7060 Voodoo Rooms : Restaurant review 25 May 2009 Recommended for an informal evening out rather than sporting diamonds and tiara |
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| * * * | Harvey
Nichols Forth Floor Restaurant, Brasserie & Bar 11-13 South St Andrew St +44 (0)131 524 8350 The raison d’ etre of the Harvey Nichols restaurant is the view. Just like Oloroso, the aspect enlivens the space and is the key force in the overall dynamic Harvey Nichols Edinburgh opening times |
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| * * * | Zanzero 14-16 North West Circus Place, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 220 0333 Zanzero Restaurant + review |
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| * * | rick's
eat:drink:sleep 55a Frederick St, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 622 7800 New Town restaurant & bar - sensitive refurbishment by Malcolm Fraser Architects: ricks edinburgh has a lovely central lightwell, great materials + architect-designed furniture |
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| * * | The
Bonham 35 Drumsheugh Gdns +44 (0)131 226 6050 Beautiful Edinburgh restaurant: the Bonham Hotel refurbishment was by Ron Galloway Architects, with lighting by Jonathan Speirs & Associates reservations +44 (0)131 623 6060 |
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| * | Centotre 103 George Street, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 225 1550 Owned by Victor and Carina Contini, previously half of Valvona and Crolla: Centotre Restaurant + reviews |
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| ^ | Dean
Gallery: Cafe 73 Belford Rd., Edinburgh +44 (0)131 624 6200 Compact wee café - Cafe Newton - under towering Paolozzi sculpture on ground floor of the Dean Gallery: the interior of this unusual Edinburgh Restaurant was designed by architect Terry Farrell |
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| ^ | No.27
Restaurant 27 Charlotte Sq, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 243 9339 Experience fine Scottish cuisine in orginal Georgian dining room. Restaurant located in National Trust for Scotland property at Charlotte Square |
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| ^ | Tonic
34a Castle St, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 225 6431 Opened 2001: large cocktail list, celebrity hang-out. Organic spaces in a dark palette, down off the street |
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| ^ | Weston
Link, RSA Gallery Restaurant & Bar, run by Searcy's (London) +44 (0)131 624 6580 The Weston Link includes a 140-seat restaurant & 40-seat cafe bar, open daily. Three tiers of the Weston Link restaurant view out through large expanses of glazing to Princes Street Gardens. The Gallery café is open during gallery hours, serving coffee + snacks |
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| ^ | No.1
downstairs at The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes St +44 (0)131 556 2414 Expensive quality dining in Balmoral Hotel basement restaurant by chef Jeff Bland |
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| ^ | Hadrian’s
The Balmoral Hotel, 2 North Bridge +44 (0)131 557 5000 Stylish restaurant from 1999 |
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Have you visited one of the above Edinburgh Restaurants? Please mail your review
Edinburgh New Town Restaurants in more detail
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Leith Restaurants |
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Fisher's 1 The Shore, Leith, Edinburgh: needs prior booking +44 (0)131 554 5666 Darkly atmospheric pub with celebrated food - under the former 17thC Signal Tower. Fisher's Restaurant is a Leith institution and one of the famous Edinburgh restaurants. Booking advised in advance |
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| * * * | Martin
Wishart 54 The Shore, Leith: best to book Opened in 2000 in small, discreet premises: for sumptuous food in calm surroundings, excellent sensitive service: a rare Michelin-starred Edinburgh restaurant |
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| * * | Skipper's 1a Dock Pl, Leith: needs prior booking +44 (0)131 554 1018 Quiet - again, non-contemporary - seafood restaurant. Skipper's is tucked away near the Waterfront Bistro, cosy, good service when last there. Included due to great reputation, but it's pricey |
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| * * | Malmaison
Hotel The Shore, Leith +44 (0)131 468 5000 Former Seaman's Mission, restored in 1994 to make what has become a well known Edinburgh restaurant, and hotel: Malmaison Edinburgh + review Cafe Bar / Brasserie - please call for bookings brasserie +44 (0)131 468 5002 restaurant reservations +44 (0)131 468 5003 |
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| * | Raj
Restaurant 87-91 Henderson St, Leith +44 (0)131 553 3980 Great view down Water of Leith; quality Curry House, adj. Allan Murray Architects' Coalhill Housing. Ordinary interior, authentic North Indian cuisine |
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Have you visited one of the above Edinburgh Restaurants? Please mail your review
Leith Restaurants in more detail
| Environs: Edinburgh Restaurants in the Suburbs |
| * * * | Rhubarb,
Prestonfield House Hotel's restaurant Priestfield Rd, Edinburgh +44 (0)131 225 1333 Rhubarb Restaurant reservations@prestonfield.com |
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Have you visited the above Edinburgh area restaurant? Please mail your review
Edinburgh Restaurants : Edinburgh suburbs in more detail
Have you visited one of these Edinburgh Restaurants? Reviews to info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk
Edinburgh hotel bookings: Edinburgh hotels
Glasgow Restaurants
East Lothian Restaurants
West Lothian Restaurants
Midlothian Restaurants
Restaurants Edinburgh: Recommendations welcome
Comments on / Reviews of Edinburgh Restaurants: info@edinburgharchitecture.co.uk
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